"Do we have to make a call with regards to invoices?" and "Just the same as usual or it will be too much." Among other things, these types of chat messages are responsible for the sentences of three tomato traders for bribery, written falsehoods and laundering.
It concerns a case which took place between 2013 and 2015. An employee of a growers union made sales agreements with two individuals from another company. This gave them a nice personal bonus: 850,000 Euro. But they were found out. They have to pay back the money, received a prison sentence of three months and three months conditional. They also have to carry out 240 hours of community service. One tomato buyer received a similar punishment. The third suspect received five out of six months conditional sentence. They also only have to carry out 180 hours of community service.
The sentences are lower than demanded by the prosecution as the judge believed not everything had been proven. According to the judge it wasn't evident that the buyers were receiving a discount on the tomatoes. "There is always a buyer who pays less than the rest," said the growers whose tomatoes were sold.
The former union employee disagrees, as their statement shows. "The accused did not show at the hearing that he has any insight into the malignancy of his actions," it says.
